Punch Shots: 'Dynamic' Michigan pushes season tickets

The University of Michigan is entering a deal with the economic devil known as "dynamic pricing," which creates a sliding scale for the cost of individual football game tickets.

A number of pro teams and colleges already use the system, determining the price of admission by combining the sexiness of the opponent with the projected demand for tickets.

The fact that the Wolverines have several top-shelf dates on their 2013 home schedule -- including Notre Dame, Ohio State and Nebraska -- makes this a sensible time to adjust the rates. It is also an end-around call to take business away from secondary ticket vendors as well as a chance to strong-arm fans into purchasing season tickets.

Here's the reasoning: End zone seats can be had for $65 per game for all seven home games in some season ticket packages. But wait to buy a Notre Dame ducat, and you may have to shell out almost $200 for that same location.

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Unfortunately, the scale isn't designed to slide the other way. The university won't sell tickets at less than face value for matchups with Central Michigan and Akron.

And the home schedule over the next three seasons currently consists of potential box office busts against Appalachian State, Hawaii, Colorado and Ball State.

Hunter Lochmann, Michigan's chief marketing officer and former New York Knicks vice president of marketing, defended the move.

"Pricing dynamically will allow us to adjust single-game ticket prices upward or downward based on real-time market conditions with the biggest factor being fan demand and ticket scarcity," Lochmann explained. "We've seen strong demand for tickets and encourage fans to buy early to access the best deals."

My only question is, will Rutgers' much-anticipated (ahem) visit to the Big House in 2015 be priced like a Broadway debut or community theater?